Blind spot warning

What year Leaf has BSW system as standard or option?
Thanks.

What a weird question.

I'm not aware of it being even an option on currently shipping US Leafs. It's not mentioned at http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/presskits/us-2017-nissan-leaf-press-kit in the body text nor Specs tab. Changes from 2013 thru 2017 model years have been mostly small except for 30 kWh battery (2016 SV and SL, 2016 "S 30" and all 2017 Leafs).

However, for 2018 model year (not shipping in the US yet), it is mentioned at http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/overview-2018-nissan-leaf and http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/us-united-states-nissan-models-leaf/releases/2018-nissan-leaf-offers-more-range-content-and-technology-for-lower-msrp-than-previous-generation-design.

Thank you.
I am surprised that a futuristic electric car doesnt have one of the most basic and common safety features almost all cars above $20k offer.

Oh, boy! A real live TesTroll!

even the base Altima I drove a few weeks ago had blind spot sensors. It's only because this is a car that has remained largely unchanged since it's launch. A few small updates, but not much.

pyromancy5 said:

A few small updates, but not much.

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Up until the really big update that is about to be on sale in the US.

jlv said:

pyromancy5 said:

A few small updates, but not much.

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Up until the really big update that is about to be on sale in the US.

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Yep. :roll:

tesleaf said:

Thank you.
I am surprised that a futuristic electric car doesnt have one of the most basic and common safety features almost all cars above $20k offer.

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Thanks for sharing.

My current car doesn't have rearview camera or blind spot monitoring whereas my wife's does have both.
I really wish my car had those two features and I am still contemplating getting a 2013 leaf...
hmmmmmm

It's funny how things that seem superfluous at first glance, quickly seem essential. I used to roll my eyes at backup cameras. Then our 2012 LEAF was the first of our vehicles to come with a backup camera. Now it's scary to think about all the years I backed up with a huge blind spot behind me.

That being said, if you adjust all your mirrors properly you can practically eliminate blind spots while driving. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots

My housemate's PIP has a terrible backup camera, and we both hate it. It's just slightly better than no camera at all. I, OTOH, won't buy another car without some kind of surround vision for parking. (I hope.)

Nubo said:

It's funny how things that seem superfluous at first glance, quickly seem essential. I used to roll my eyes at backup cameras. Then our 2012 LEAF was the first of our vehicles to come with a backup camera. Now it's scary to think about all the years I backed up with a huge blind spot behind me.

That being said, if you adjust all your mirrors properly you can practically eliminate blind spots while driving. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots

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I've been doing this for years now and first heard of it on Car Talk. After 2-3 days of driving with them in that position, it becomes natural.

@tesleaf - What is your budget shoping for a Leaf? In April, I found a '14 SL with Premium for under 12k. Its a lot of car for that kind of money. The 360 camera makes me feel like I'm cheating when I parallel park :lol: So easy to slip into the smallest spots when you can see your angles and boundaries. IIRC, the 2013 was when this option was introduced to the Leaf, and this was still pretty advanced tech, available in only high end vehicles at the time outside of Nissan.

Interestingly, Nissan pioneered this invention: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/infiniti/worlds-first-360deg-car-camera/

This lead to it entering production on an Infinity EX35 in 2008, copied by BMW in 2009.

Backup cameras, first introduced with the HUmmer H2 in 2004, will be mandatory on all new vehicles starting in may of next year.

I am firmly set against all this "futuristic" tech that seem to be making people "incomplete" if their cars don't have all of these sensors. Firstly, You don't need forward collision or pedestrian sensors. You should drive with at least 2-3 car lengths behind cars in any situation, and further away with increased speed. Also, when was the last time that a pedestrian jumped out in front of your car? I cannot ever remember that in 40 years of driving.

Second, we do not need blind spot sensors. My blind spot sensor for many years has been buying a $2 2 inch fisheye mirror and putting it on my driver side view mirror. Also, as a back up, Every time I change lanes either way, I also turn my head to see behind me.

Third, We do not need back up cameras (as in having a law that all cars must have one). I have heard the statistic that 80% of accidents happen when you put your car in reverse. Reverse is very dangerous, and the least of your dangers is how far you are to another parked car. Yes, a baby may crawl down the sidewalk behind you, but you can check behind you very easy before you leave. The REAL dangers of going in reverse is having to look left and right behind you to seek if any nuts have tried to drive past you as you reverse the car. If you look at the rear camera, you cannot look to all directions behind you.

fourth, Sensors like these are money making extras that the car companies want you to not be able to live without them, and make you buy a new car. Also, do you have any idea of what all this tech costs to fix after body damage?

I say, Do not give up your humanity with this techno crap. Continue our 100 year old (and plus if you include horses) tradition of honing driving skill, and not allowing the government to take over and control our lives. Do you really want to have a self-driving car, where the government controls how fast you drive, what route you take, and knows your every move? not me. This new tech in cars is just a taste of what government controls there will be in cars in the future.....

I loved my little '94 Geo Metro, no blind spot sensors, no backup camera, no TPMS, heck no airbags, the only real safety feature it had was something introduced decades ago.......seatbelts! It sold new for $8500 and that included $1k for A/C which wasn't standard.
Some may have called it a death trap, <1700lbs weight and very little safety features, it did get near 50 mpg in the city and close to 60 highway. I drove it for 10 years without an accident or incident.....
They could NOT make a car like that nowadays, no way in hell. I'm guessing after all the "safety" features, such as TPMS.....really, people can't check their own tire pressures?? the cheapest car that could be sold in the US must be close to $12k.....probably more.
Personally, I don't even care for cruise, I prefer instead to monitor how close I am to the vehicle in front of me, adding more room depending on speed or traffic conditions. Not that I don't like cruise for highway trips, but not in town where I drive my Leaf, to many variables.
Don't get me wrong, safety features have their place but forcing people to pay for them seems a bit socialist.....well nanny state at least.

jjeff said:

Don't get me wrong, safety features have their place but forcing people to pay for them seems a bit socialist.....well nanny state at least.

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Perhaps, but the results have trended pretty nicely:



Although we may be approaching the point of diminishing returns.

the cheapest car that could be sold in the US must be close to $12k.....probably more.

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Nope. You can get a Versa sedan for about $10k, or a Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback, meaning a lightly used one would go for about...$7500. I'd rather pay a bit more for those Socialist add-ons. I get wanting a no-frills car (plus A/C and cruise!) but I don't think that the only new car a kid or working single mom can afford should lack safety features. You want to see what kind of car the free market system produces on its own? Look at the cars made before 1960 - excepting the Tucker, Mercedes and Volvos.